The UN climate change conference in Cancun, Mexico, has entered its high-level stage with disputes still unresolved over the extension of the Kyoto Protocol, beyond, 2012. A delegation of local officials from China, are attending the talks for the first time. The country, has taken the lead, in using solar and wind power, but it's also looking for other ways to produce clean energy.

China is the global leader on clean energy. In the last two years, it has emerged as the world's largest manufacturer of solar panels. The country's need to continue its rapid development has produced an interest in finding new ways to produce energy, that are also safe for the environment.

Li Junfeng, Secretary General of China Renewable Energy Industries Assn., said, "That is the priority in China for the low carbon density for the GDP and for the low carbon development approach in the cities and provinces. It is a very high priority. Without that low-carbon approach it is very difficult to have mitigation for our gas emissions."

China currently gets 80 percent of its energy through coal, which accounts for 82 percent of the country's total carbon emissions. Last year, China pledged to reduce its carbon intensity by 40 to 45 percent by 2020. And, that's sparked the race to find low carbon technologies. The Europe-China Clean Energy Center hopes to help with this goal, by providing support to create a more efficient and environmentally friendly energy sector.

Dr. Alessandro Costa, Co-Director of Europe-China Clean Energy CTR, said, "We have completed recently a broad study on, it is an advisory report and recommendations and guidelines for energy efficiency on the building sector in China. Knowing that in the building sector, in terms of carbon emissions and also energy consumption, accounts for one third or 30 percent."

And action is also been taking on the local level. For the first time, a delegation of leaders from China's provinces and cities are attending the UN Climate Change talks. They are part of the NGO The Climate Change Group's initiative on creating clean cities.

Li Dawei, Mayor of Song County, said, "We are trying to seek a balance between development and conservation, and between building an eco-friendly city and continuing urbanization."

By developing clean energy on the local and national level, China hopes to lead by example-- as a country that continue developing, while being environmentally responsible.

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